Jacquard device controlled knitting machine



May 10, 1938. H, KQRBER 2,116,761

- JACQUARD DEVICE CONTROLLED KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1937' 2Sheets-Sheet l @f/if@ May 10; 1938. H. KORBER I I JACQUARD DEVICECONTROLLED KNITTING MACHINE Fliled Feb. 8, 1937 2 SheetS-'Shee 2Patented May 1:0, 1938 JACQUARD DEVICE coN'rRoiLED KNIT- TING MACHINEHans Korber, Couvet, Switzerland,` assigner to the firm Edouard Dubied &Cie. Socit Anonyme, Neuchtel, Switzerland Application February 8, 1937,Serial No. `124,629

In Germany February 11, `1936 9 cmims. (ci. 66575) This inventionrelates to Jacquard devices for fiat knitting machines, pearl knittingmachines or the like for producing a great number of pattern effects,and most particularly to machines having a plurality of needle lockslides cooperating with each other in collateral positions (double ortriple cam slide machines or the like).

With known machines of this kind, the auxiliary needles selected by theJacquard device 10 are pushed Within the range of operation of auxiliarylock slides and raised by the latter to such an extent that auxiliaryheels on the corresponding needles project above the needle bed, so asto provide for the main needle lock slides to advance the needles. Allof the needles selected for cooperation with a certain needle lock slideby the Jacquard device perform the same knitting movements, that is,equal advance and retracting movements through the needle guideways.

Those known machines in which the pushers selected by the Jacquarddevice raise the main and auxiliary needle jacks directly, for thepurpose of moving the heels thereof within the range of operation of theneedle lock slides, operate in like manner.

Other known machines are provided withJacquard sinkers that can beadjusted according to a pattern for directly moving during their ad-Vance movement the needle jacks or other knitting members into movementchange-over position for being influenced by corresponding cam portionsof the needle'lock slide, in order toprovide for retracting the needlesin accordance with` the pattern in this manner. All of the needlesselected for cooperating with a certain needle lock slide for beingretracted in the same sense are, also in this arrangement, compelled toperform equal knitting movements.

40 There are further Jacquard arrangements known, particularly forcombination with double cam slide machines, in which two relativelyindependent pushers are so distributed by the Jacquard device that anydesired group of needles can be selected for cooperation with both lockcam systems, each selected group of needles being, however, compelled toperform the same knitting movements as determined by the correspondinglyadjusted needle lock slide. Apart from the drawback inherent to all theknown arrangements mentioned above that the needles selected forcooperation with any one` of the needle lock slides perform the sameknitting movements, and can thus all be selected but once, 5` thisarrangement has the further drawback that all theneedles, needle jacksand the like that remained in inoperative position must be readjusted bytheneedle retracting cams anew in which way the risk of mesh breakage isinvolved.

According to" the present invention, all the 5 aforesaid drawbacks areeliminated by the knittingmembersviz., needles, needle jacks or the likeoccupying positions within the range of operation of a slide lock beingso controlled, for

the 'purpose of selectively varying the lengths of 10 the needlemovements, with the aid of auxiliary push means, which are selected forcooperation with an auxiliary slide lock and at least two of which areassociated with an individual knitting member, through the medium of anintermediary 15 member, that projections or heels of said knittingmembers are causedto cooperate with correlated slide `lock cam portions.

In this manner is accomplished that the needles which are `correlated toone and the same lock 2d slide are adapted to knit conjointly eithercardigan stitches,`long stitches, short stitches etc., as selectedaccording toa pattern, without requiring depressible or stepped off camportions to be provided in the lock slide. 25

Also, when applied to pearl knitting machines, the invention permits tocontrol in accordance with a pattern the needle jacks or needles, as thecase may be, which are correlated to an individual lock slide, so as toshift partly in any direction, 30

that is,` to the r'ear or front needle bed, partly to assume` cardiganstitch forming positions, and partly to shift for forming long or shortstitches. In this way the greatest amount of dilferent patterningpossibilities isprovided for. 35

In the accompanying drawings an embodiment oi the `Jacquard device,according to the invention, is `illustrated in combination with a fiatknitting machine,v only the parts necessary for a proper understandingof the invention being 4o shown.

v In the drawings- Fig, 1 shows a cross section through the needle bedand the Jacquard device with the intermediary member and the correlatedneedle jack in 45 lowered positions (inoperative position);

Fig. 2 shows a similar section on the line II-II extending through Figs.3 and 4, but with the intermediary member and the needle jack in raisedpositions (operative position); 50

Fig. 3 is a View of the auxiliary slide lock as seen in the direction ofarrow A in Fig. l, and

Fig. 4 is a view of the needle slide lock as seen in the direction ofarrow B in Fig. 1, the two views 3 and 4 as combined `side by siderepresent- 55 ing a development of the same into the picture plane.

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 1 but for a triple cam slidemachine;

Fig. 6 is a section through a needle bed guiding knitting members thatare constituted by knitting needles arranged to pivot about their tips.

Fig. 7 is an end View of a pearl knitting machine to which the inventionis applied;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of a flat knitting machine according to theinvention, and

Fig. 9 is a larger scale cross section of the needle beds of the machineshown in Fig. 7.

By I the needle bed is designated and by 2 the .needles guided thereby.3 refers to needle jacks pivotally connected to the needles, and 4 tothe main needle lock face platejprovioled with cam portions 5, 6 and Ias Well as 8,;jg andl IQ for controlling the needles 2, by means ofprojections as snugs or heels 2', and the needle-jacks 3 assuming theirraised positions respectively by means of projections or snugs 3'. IIindicates intermediary members for controlling the needle jacks 3 toassume their raised positions, said members being guided by an auxiliarybed I2, rigid with the main needle bed* I, and the numerals I3, I4, I5and I6 indicate auxiliary push means or pushers which are guided by theintermediary members I I, and locked thereto in their operative andinoperative positions. By I'I that Jacquard pattern card is denoted,which cooperates at the time being with the pushers, and by I6 theauxiliary lock face plate provided with the stationary cam portions I9,23, 2|, 22 and 23 as well aS. With cam portions 24, 25, 26 and 2I thatare depressibly arranged for alternate control at either end of themachine, in a known manner, and with triangular knock over cams 28, 29,3|) and 3| that are also adapted to be moved into or out of operativeposition by alternate control at either machine end. By 32 lockingmembers on the needle bed I are referred to which by engagement Withrests 33, such as kerfs, stops or the like on needle push members, asthe jacks 3, secure the latter in their inoperative positions, as wellas in their operative positions.

The auxiliary bed I2 is provided in the bed as Well as in the yokeportion with a plurality of parallel slots extending in the verticaldirection as regards Figs. 1 and 2. The intermediary members II and IIare guided bythe slots i'n the bed portion by means of pin and slotconnections 43 (Fig. 5). The auxiliary pushers I3 to I6 and 34 to 39 areguided, with their front portions, by the intermediary members II and II respectively between two opposite projections 40. On the other hand,the auxiliary pushers are guided with their rear portions in the slotsof the yoke portion of the bed I2 between pins 42, which pass throughthe webs left between the slots in the bed portion of the auxiliary bedI2 throughout the width of the latter the same as the pins 43 in the bedportion, In this way passages providing cross bores are formed in thebed and yoke portions in which the auxiliary pushers are positivelyguided longitudinally and transversely. The projections or noses may atthe same time serve as locking members for securing the pushers in theiroperative and inoperative positions by engagement', for example, withnotches 4I, as shown.

The various possibilities of selecting and moving active parts asintended according to the invention are the following.

During the traverse of the needle lock slide in the direction of thearrow in Fig. 4:

The knock over triangular cams 28 and 23 are rendered inactive by thechange-over mechanism, so that the auxiliary pushers I3 or I4respectively that are advanced at a time by a Jacquard card, in a knownmanner, can enter the cam slot of the auxiliary slide lock unhindered(position as indicated by line I-I in Figs. 3 and 4).

1st patterning possibility-All the auxiliary pushers assume theirinoperative positions by which is meant that they are not advanced (forexample pusher I4 in Fig. 1). During the slide passing by the auxiliarypushers the tips thereof (e. g. I4) are not gripped by the auxiliarylock cam portions 22, 23 and are thus not raised. Consequently thecorresponding intermediary members II together with the needle jacks 3held thereby retain their low positions shown in Fig. 1 (inoperativeposition), and are secured therein b-y the locking members 32interengaging with the kerfs 33. The heels 2 of the needles 2 enter theslots between the main lock cam portions 5, 6 and 5, l respectivelythereby to be guided rectilinearly during the whole traverse of theslide. Therefore, the needles 2 are not moved and remain in theirpositions of alignment.

`2114i patterning possibility.-'Il1e upper auxiliary pushers I3 are inaction, i. e. advanced by the Jacquard patterning card I'I, whereas thelower auxiliary pushers I4 are inactive. 'Ihe auxiliary lock camportions I9 and 22 grip the tips I3 and heels I3" of the pushersy I3thereby to align the heels (line I-L Figs. 3 and 4). The auxiliary lockcam portion 24 which is moved into operative position by the change-overmechanism raises the auxiliary pusher I3 and thereby the intermediarymember I I as well as the needle jacks 3, so that the heels 3 of thelatter project out of the needle bed I (line II-II in Figs. 3

and 4, and Fig. 2). During this raising movement of the needle jacks 3the needles 2 are maintained in aligned positions by the needle lock camportions 5, 6 with the aid of their heels 2. The tips I3 of theauxiliary pushers I3 continue to slide rectilinearly along on theauxiliary lock cam portions 24 and 22 up to a position as indicated byline X--X in Fig. 3 during which movement the heels I3 pass freelythrough the slot formed by the U-shaped lock cam portion 20 (lines VII-VII and VIII-VIII in Fig. 3). During this movement the heels 3 of theneedle jacks 3 follow the contours of the needle lock cam portion 8 upto its apex (line VIII-VIII in Figs. 3 and 4) in which way the needles 2are advanced completely thereby to produce stitches, While the heels 2of the needles 2 follow the contours of the needle lock cam portion 6(from line VIII- VIII to line XI-XI in Figs. 3 and 4) in which way theneedles 2 are retracted. During this complexity of movements (from lineIII-III to line XI-XI in Figs. 3 and 4) each group of needles and needlejacks coupled together by means of the heels 2 and 3 remains at alltimes safely guided on both sides between the needle lock cam portions6, 8, so that jumping is avoided. In the position as indicated by lineX--X in Fig. 3, the heels I4 of the auxiliary pushers I4 not having beenmoved into operative position enter into engagement with the inclinedplane of the needle lock cam portion 21 having been moved into operativeposition by the change-over mechanism and are thus shifted downwardly.In this way the needle jacks 3 are 'again depressed in the needle bed I,into their inoperative positions in which they are secured by thelocking members 32, through the interventionof the intermediary membersI I, the heels 3 of the needle jacks thus disengaging from thecorresponding needle lock cam portions.` Theneedle heels 2 then continueto slide rectilinearly on needle lock cam portion 6, whereas the needles2 remain in positions of alignment and have thus formed short stitches.On passing out of the auxiliary lock cam slot the operative auxiliarypushers i3 are moved back into their initial positions again by means ofthe triangular knock over cams 30.

3rd patterningI possibility-Lower auxiliary pushers I4 are operative,that is, are advanced by the Jacquard pattern card II, whereas upperauxiliary pushers I3 remain inactive and the tips I4 are gripped byauxiliary lock cam portion l23, thereby being raised. The heels 3 of theneedle jacks 3 thus emerge from the needle bed I. The tips I4' then keepon sliding rectilinearly on auxiliary lock cam portion 23 and the heels3' follow the contours of the needle `lock cam portion 8 up to theposition as indicated by line V-V in the Figs. 3 and 4. The needles 2`are advanced halfway, thereby forming cardigan loops. The heels I3 ofthe inoperative auxiliary pushers I3 enter into engagement with theinclined plane of the auxiliary lock cam portion 20 and are thus shifteddownwardly. Consequently the heels 3 of the needle jacks are depressedagain in the needle bed I and are therefore disengaged fromthe needlelock cam portion 8 beyond line V-V (Figs. 3 and 4). During this workingincidence the needle heels 2 remain guided in the cam slot betweenneedle lock cam portions 6 and l at both of their opposite guide edges.The tips I4 oi `the operative pushers I4 are then raised again byauxiliary lock cam portion 23 and the heels 3 of the needle jacks 3project out of the needle bed I again, the needle 2 being retained anewin the cam slot between cam portions 6 and I (line X--X Figs. 3 and 4).'Ihe tips I4 of the auxiliary pushers I4 now keep on slidingrectilinearly on the auxiliary lock cam portion 23 duringwhich movementthe heels I4" pass freely through the passage formed by the U-shapedauxiliary lock cam portion 21 (line X--X up to line XIII-XIII in Fig.3). The needle heels 2' are retracted by the needle lock cam portion 6during which movement the contour of the needle lock cam portion 8serves as a guide for the heels 3 of the needle jacks which these heelsfollow (line XI-XI in Figs. 3 and 4) Thereupon, the heels 3 oi theneedle jacks are gripped and completely retracted by the needle lock camportion Ill, which at the beginning of the traverse of the slide wasmoved into` operative position, in a known manner, by conjoint movementwith needle lock cam portion 9, so that the heels 2 of the needles enterthe corresponding recess in the needle lock cam portion 5. Consequently,the needles 2 form long stitches. Afterwards the needle lock cam portion5 retracts the heels 2' of the needles again intotheir positions ofalignment, whereas auxiliary lock cam portion ZI shifts downwardly andaligns the heels i3" of the auxiliary pushers I3 not occupying theiroperative positions by means of which also the corresponding needlejacks are depressed again in the needle bed I tobe locked in theirinoperative positions by the locking members 32. The triangular knockover cam 3I finally drives the auxiliary pushers I4 back into initialposition.`

4th patterning possibility-Both, auxiliary pushers I3 and I4 are inaction. The sequence of working operations is the same as .previouslyexplained, viz., complete advancement of the needles (up to line VIII-VIII in Figs. 3 and 4)` for forming loops; complete retraction (up toline XIII-XIII in Figs..3 and 4) therefore long loops are formed.

Duefto the construction of the locks being symmetrical allmovementsdescribed above are carried out during the opposite traverseofthe slide in exactly the same manner. i

In double cam slide machines havingtwo collateral main needle locks(Fig.` 4), an auxiliary lock exactly like that described above withreference to the lower part of Fig. 3 is arranged in the transversemiddle axis of the` upper main needle lock shown in the upper part ofFig. 4;

In this case, the auxiliary lock correlated to the lower main needlelock, which `may be `called the second needle lock, is raised to ahigher level than that of the first auxiliarylock as thisis indicated inFig. 3 by the set-back above the knock over cams 3D, 3|. Thecorresponding two auxiliarypushers I5 and I6 are guided by the sameintermediary member I I as the auxiliary pushers I3 and I4 (Figs. 1 and2) and are selected by one .and the same Jacquard patterning card` I'Iwhich to this end is provided with four rows of punchings.

For triple cam slide machines accordingly a third auxiliary lock and twofurther auxiliary pushers are provided. Referring to Fig. 3, this thirdauxiliary lock of a similar construction as previously described wouldjoin with the lower margin of this figure by being again stepped uptothe left, due to the fact that this lock is arranged in the topmostportion `of the cam face plate I8. Accordingly the two auxiliary pushers34 and 35 are shown in Fig. 5 to be accommodated in an upwardly extendedintermediary member II above the auxiliary pushers 3E, 3'! and 33, 39respectively which cooperate with the second and first main needle locksrespectively.

For effecting more additional knitting movements than previouslydescribed by way of example,` according to the invention, more than twoauxiliary pushers may be used for cooperation with an individual needle,the additional auxiliary pushers being actuated by correspondingauxiliary lock cam portions. Thus, for example, the auxiliary bed shownin Fig. 5 may be associated with a double cam slide machine in whichwith the individual needles three auxiliary pushers cooperate, theauxiliary pushers accommodated in the lower half of the auxiliary bedcooperating with the rst main needle lock and the three auxiliarypushers accommodated in the upper half of the auxiliary bed cooperatingWith the second main needle lock of the knitting machine.

Moreover, it is possible without any other further provisions toincrease, according `to the length of the invention, the individualneedles of flat knitting machines to which the` invention is applied(Fig. 8) and to transmit the raising and lowering movements of theintermediary members I I to the needles 2 (Fig. 6) which in thiscase areadapted to swing about their tips.

In pearl knitting machines to which the invention is applied (Fig. 7),the needle jacks 3, as such may be adapted to carry out the swingingmovementsv or else auxiliary needle jacks 3 may be employed that arepivoted to the needle jacks 3 (Fig. 9) for actuating the needles 2".

I do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, number orarrangement of parts as shown and described, all of .which may be variedWithout going beyond the scope of my invention-as shown, described andclaimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a. pearl knittingmachine for producing a great number of pattern effects, a needle bed,knitting members movably arranged in said needle bed, an auxiliary bedcombinedwith said needle bed, auxiliary Jacquard device controlled pushmeans associated at least two in number with the individual knittingmembers and guided by means of said auxiliary bed, slide meanssimultaneously traversing said needle bed and said auxiliary bed andcomprising knitting member actuating and push means actuating camportions for engaging said knitting members by their correlated camportions by means of said push means, auxiliary members displaceablyguided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting said knittingmembers with said auxiliary push means, and a pattern card combined withsaid Jacquard device for selecting said push means for cooperation withtheir correlated cam portions for varying the length of movement of saidknitting members in accordance with the pattern represented by saidcard.

2. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a pearl knittingmachine for producing a great number of pattern eiects, a needle bed,knitting needles pivotally connected to needle jacks movably arranged insaid needle bed, an auxiliary bed combined with said needle bed,auxiliary Jacquard device controlled pushers associated at least two innumber with the individual needles and guided by means of said auxiliarybed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed and saidauxiliary bed and comprising needle jack actuating and pusher actuatingcam portions for engaging said needle jacks by their correlated camportions by means of said pushers, auxiliary members displaceably guidedby said auxiliary bed operatively connecting said needle jacks with saidauxiliary pushers, and a pattern card combined with said Jacquard devicefor selecting said pushers for cooperation with their correlated camportions for varying the length of movement of said needles inaccordance with the pattern represented by said card.

3. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a pearl knittingmachine for producing a great number of pattern eiects, a needle bed,pivotal knitting members movably arranged in said needle bed,complementary locking means intercalated between said knitting membersand said needle bed for securing said members to said bed in theirinoperative positions pivotally depressed therein, an auxiliary bedcombined with said needle bed, auxiliary Jacquard device controlled pushmeans associated at least two in number with the individual knittingmembers and guided by means of said auxiliary bed, slide meanssimultaneously traversing said needle bed and said auxiliary bed andcomprising knitting member actuating and aligning cam portions as Wellas push means actuating cam portions for engaging for operation, bymeans of said push means,and holding said knitting members alignedrespectively during said members swinging out of inoperative intooperative position, auxiliary members displaceably guided by saidauxiliary bed operatively connecting said knitting members with saidauxiliary push means, and a pat tern-card combined with said Jacquarddevice lfor 'selecting said push means -for cooperation with theircorrelated cam portions for varying' the length of movement of saidknitting members.

4. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a pearl knittingmachine for producing a great number of pattern effects, a needle bed,knitting needles pivotally connected to needle jacks movably arranged insaid needle bed, an auxiliary bed combined With said needle bed,auxiliary Jacquard device controlled pushers associated at least two innumber with the individual needles and. guided by means of saidauxiliary bed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed andsaid auxiliary bed and comprising needle jack actuating and aligning camportions as well as pusher actuating cam portions for engaging saidneedle jacks for operation, by means of said pushers, and holding saidneedles aligned respectively during said needle jacks swinging out ofinoperative into operative position, auxiliary members displaceablyguided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting said needle jackswith said auxiliary pushers, and a pattern card combined with saidJacquard device `for selecting said pushers for cooperation with theircorrelated cam portions for varying the length of movement of saidneedles, in accordance with the pattern represented by said card.

5. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a pearl knittingmachine for producing a great number of pattern effects, a needle bed,knitting members movably arranged in said needle bed, an auxiliary bedcombined with said needle bed, in angular disposition thereto, auxiliaryJacquard device controlled push means associated at least two in numberwith the individual knitting members and guided by means of saidauxiliary bed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed andsaid auxiliary bed and comprising knitting member actuating and pushmeans actuating cam portions for engaging said knitting members by theircorrelated cam portions by means of said push means, auxiliary membersdisplaceably guided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting saidknitting members with said auxiliary push means that extend through saidmembers, for cooperation with said push means actuating cam portionsWhen selected by said Jacquard device, and a pattern card combined withsaid Jacquard device for selecting said push means for cooperation withtheir correlated cam portions for varying the length of movement of saidknitting members in accordance with the pattern represented by saidcard.

6. In a Jacquard device controlled knitting machine as a pearl knittingmachine for producing a great number of pattern effects, a needle bed,knitting needles pivotally connected to needle jacks movably arranged insaid needle bed, an auxiliary bed combined with said needle bed, atright angles thereto, auxiliary Jacquard controlled pushers associatedat least two in number with the individual needles and Aguided by meansof said auxiliary bed, slide means simultaneously traversing said needlebed and said auxiliary bed and comprising needle jack actuating andpusher actuating cam portions for engaging said needle jacks by theircorrelated cam portions by means of said pushers, auxiliary membersdisplaceably guided by said auxiliary bed operatively connecting saidneedle jacks with said auxiliary pushers extending through said membersfor cooperation with said pusher actuating cam portions when selected bysaid Jacquard device, and a pattern card combined with said Jacquarddevice for selecting said pushers for cooperation with their correlatedcam portions for varying the length of movement of said needles inaccordance with the pattern represented by said card.

7. In a flat knitting machine for producing a great number of patterneffects, a needle bed, knitting needles guided in said needle bed forswinging movement about their tips, an auxiliary bed connected tosaidneedle bed substantially at right angles thereto, auxiliary Jacquarddevice controlled pushers associated at least two in number with theindividual knitting needle and guided by means of said auxiliary bed,slide means simultaneously traversing said needle bed and said auxiliarybed and comprising needle actuating and pusher actuating cam portionsfor engaging said needles by their correlated cam portions by means ofsaid pushers, auxiliary members displaceably guided by said auxiliarybed operatively connecting said needles with said auxiliary pushers, anda pattern card combined with said Jacquard device for selecting saidpushers for cooperation with their `correlated cam portions for varyingthe length of movement of said swingable needles in accordance with thepattern represented by said card.

8. In a pearl knitting machine for producing a great number of patterneffects, a needle bed, knitting needles movably arranged in said needlebed, needle jacks for said needles, auxiliary needle jacks pivotallyconnected to said needle jacks, an auxiliary bed connected to saidneedle bed sublstantially at right angles thereto, auxiliary Jacquarddevice controlled pushers associated at least two in number with theindividual knitting needle and guided by means of said auxillnumber ofpattern effects, a bed portion iary bed, slide means simultaneouslytraversing said needle bed and said auxiliary bed and comprising needleactuating and pusher actuating cam portions for engaging said needles bytheir correlated cam portions by means of said pushers, auxiliarymembers displaceably guided by said auxiliary bed operatively connectingsaid auxiliary needle jacks with said auxiliary pushers, and a patterncard combined with said Jacquard device for selecting said pushers forcooperation with their correlated cam portions for varying the length ofmovement of said knitting needles in accordance with the patternrepresented by said card.

9. In an auxiliary bed for a Jacquard device controlled knitting machinefor producing a great and a yoke portion of the auxiliary bed firmlyengaging each other with said yoke portion spanning said bed portionrearwardly of the latter, auxiliary push means cooperating with theJacquard device and intermediary motion transmitting members for saidpush means guided conjointly in guide slots situated in parallel planesangularly disposed to said bed portion and being devoid of a bottom,stops extending pairwise transversely through said guide slots in saidyoke portion to straddle the rear end portion of each of said pushmeans, and stops provided pairwise on each of said intermediary membersto straddle the front l end portion of each of said push means, saidformer and said latter pairs of stops forming passages providing crossbores for said rear end portions, and said front end portions of saidpush means respectively.

HANS KORBER.

